Mohawk Valley Express Volume 2 Number 5 May 2022

FREE Daniel Enea

3rd Generation Funeral Director

VOLUME 2: NUMBER 5

MAY 2022

Niki Marie gets ready to open third location on Main Street the couch and have her friend sit on the floor and Little Falls native Niki do this for hours. “It was Marie Messina is getting a mess. It always turned ready to open her third orange, no matter what. hair salon on June 22, But, that’s how I started.”

2022, this one on Main Street in the City.

The first location she opened was out of her After graduating from high house in 2009 in Ilion. school in 1999, Messina “I grew out of the salon went to cosmetology school in Albany, came that I was at, so it was back to the area, and time for me to move started her career 20 on and start my own,” years ago. “I’ve always she stated. “I was in the been playing with hair. I house for almost a year remember sitting in the and it just got to be too living room with my best much. It was too busy, friend and pulling her hair there were two of us, and through a cap,” she said. we just ended up with too many clients, so we Messina said she’d sit on opened a storefront in

by Dave Warner

Photo by Dave Warner - Niki Marie Messina shows off her new logo of the hair salon she’ll be opening in June on Main Street in Little Falls.

Ilion in August of 2010.”

but everything shut down.

They told us salons could Two years ago, in the open back up in June, so middle of the pandemic, we opened Ilion to see she decided to open what would happen. We her second location in had so many regulations Utica. “I was planning on to deal with.” opening in May of 2020,

After a month of figuring it out in Ilion, she decided to open the Utica store because they had been paying rent on the location without being able to

building and fell in love with it.”

sold her place in Jersey City. “I worked on the facade after that, and then the windows. The walls in here were all like sea waves and they were horrible. I had some friends come up from the City and they scraped it all down and redid it for

Please See STYLE Page 3

Redefined Alchemy - Asteroga House finds new life as Airbnb

by Dave Warner

Bianka Rico has owned the Asteroga House for 17 years and she’s been working on giving the spot her own brand of design since the day she bought it. “I was coming up to Little Falls on the weekends, and I saw this

She said, “Of course, I always bite off more than I can chew because I had a house downstate and two places up here.”

Originally, she rented out the rooms until she

Please LIFE Page 2

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M O H A W K Page 2

V A L L E Y MAY 2022

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LIFE From Page 1 me.”

The building has an atrium that goes all the way to the top. “In each apartment, both on the second and third floors, there are windows in the hallways and it brings light from the atrium into them,” she said.

“My thought down the road is to someday make it like a greenhouse on the third floor in that area.”

Rico said that she had thought about reopening it as a restaurant, but then her sister died and her nephew was six at the time and autistic and she took custody of him. “My plan was to keep my career in the City and to do this as a Mexican Restaurant maybe Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Something that I could manage.”

“That was my initial dream,” she stated.

However, with custody of her nephew, everything

got turned upside down because she needed to have 24-hour care for him, which was expensive.

The Airbnb location can sleep between 10 and 12 people and Rico said that she’s configured it so that she can transition from a party to a location where people can stay over. “I made only two designated sleeping areas.”

Rico said that she feels her location is not the typical Airbnb. “This is probably going to appeal to women more. Just because it’s homey, eclectic, and artsy.”

It also lends itself to entertaining where you could have an event there, and have people come over for drinks and dinner. “It’s not sterile,” she said.

As for the furnishings, she said, “This is all my stuff.

Some of the lights that I bought were just in my closet. I’d just never used them for anything.”

She kept as many of the furnishings as she could from the Pub & Cafe, but added more of her own to brighten up the inside. “It’s the original bar. Where the stovetop is, used to be where they had the beer taps. It already had the opening, so I just extended the bar out a little bit.”

Rico said that she couldn’t find much of the original history of the building when she looked, only able to go back to about 1920. “I went to the historical society, but there wasn’t much. Maybe it was a boarding house back in the day. There might have even been a furniture store, and Joe’s Cafe at one point.”

Photo by Dave Warner - Bianka Rico has turned the Asteroga House into an Airbnb location.

Photo by Dave Warner - The bar area now serves as the kitchen.

She said there are still several things that she wants to do to the location, and that she’ll tackle them as she gets the time. “I have this whole vision going down the road. In the end, it’s going to be like a boutique hotel. I want to design linen robes and sheets and towels.

I want to have my own brand for the place,” she stated.

Rico said, “I see the City going in a good direction.

There’s a lot of positive energy here.”

To see more as well as the listing on Airbnb go to https://www.airbnb.com/ rooms/50850140

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Page 3

STYLE From Page 1 open it. “It was ready to go, so we opened the salon. Two years later, we’re doing well,” stated Messina.

She attributes a lot of her success to her husband, who stays home with her four children. She even has plans to get them involved in the businesses when they get older. Her husband Casey’s oldest daughter is very interested. “She’s already ready to go, so she’s definitely been watching me. I always tell her she’s going to take over one of the salons and it’s going to be hers.”

Messina chose Little Falls for her third location, “Because it’s my hometown.”

“We did a lot of research trying to find the perfect spot here and Cathy Christman contacted me on Facebook about this place (next to Copper Moose). “I had first dibs and it was really the only spot I wanted to be.”

The traffic from White Rose, Copper Moose, and other businesses will shine a light on her new location. “We were saying that we should put a hole in the wall so Copper Moose could just pass the beer over.”

She states that Little Falls has just come so far over the years when it comes to being a great place to

have a business, and it’s space to create a nice the perfect spot for her waiting area and then next venture. the salon area, which will be opened up as well.

For the timing of her “We’re going to build a opening, she had to work few different rooms so things out between her we have a lash room, kids, her husband, and wax room, facial, and their schedule. then a back office, lunch, and break room.”

“We’re very involved with the community Messina said that and sports. Both girls her style is more of a play softball and both modern upscale one. boys play baseball. My “Each girl that I hire, I husband is also vice train personally for six president of POP Warner months. I make sure that football, and my life ends they’re ready to go and when it starts August 1st.” up to my standards. I’m very particular about the So, she figured that work that comes out of everything had to be the salon. When I feel finished before the end like they’re ready, I’ll put of June when it came them on the floor.” to the renovations that needed to be done. “I She says that they work don’t have him anymore hard and train on all of when August comes. the newest styles and Both boys play tackle trends. football and both girls cheerlead. We’re just all Messina says that she’ll over the place, so it’s got start with three or four to be done by then.” girls at the Little Falls location, and then go “My manager is going from there. “I started to be Angela Curtacci with three in Ilion, and Shepardson and she now we’re up to nine. is going to be running We have plenty of space the place and managing here to grow.” everything. She’s worked in Ilion for me for ten “It will be nice to bring an years. We’re waiting for upscale sheik salon to her to get married in Little Falls because there June. She’s going to go really isn’t one close,” on her honeymoon and she stated. then come here, so we’ll be ready to rock,” she Style on Main can be stated. found on Facebook and they are booking They intend to knock appointments now at down one of the front Nikimariessalon.com, walls in the existing choose Little Falls.

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M O H A W K

V A L L E Y MAY 2022

E X P R E S S

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - MAY City of Little Falls May 3, 2022 - Traffic Committee meeting 6:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

May 3, 2022 - Common Council Meeting - Bills 6:30 pm, Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Common Council Chambers in City Hall.

May 5, 2022 - Canal Harbor meeting 9:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

May 9, 2022 - Police and Fire Board Meeting -

Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

May 10, 2022 - Recreation Committee meeting 6:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

May 16, 2022 - Board of Public Works Meeting Bills 6:30 pm and Regular Session 7:00 pm in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

May 18, 2022 - Urban Renewal Agency Meeting - 8:00 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

Robotham selected as Elk of the Year

by Dave Warner

Jim Robotham has been selected as Elk of the Year for 2022 by the

Little Falls Elks Lodge

No. 42. There is going to

be a ceremony honoring Robotham on May 7th at

May 19, 2022 - Tourism Committee Meeting 8:30 am in the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall.

Little Falls Public Library All month Story Walk in the Park

Thursday’s 5pm Zoom Creative Writing for Kids Friday’s, 10am Playdate for Ages 0-5 Saturday’s, 11am Crochet Saturday’s 12pm Knitting Kids Crafts @ 10:30am

author Mary Brookman May 28, 2022: Tie Quilts

Little Falls Elks May 7, 2022 Saturday, Elk of the Year dinner honoring Jim Robotham.

Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7

Monday’s, 5pm Creative Writing for Kids

May 7, Flowers

Edible

May 10, 2022 Tuesday, Lodge meeting, 7pm

Wednesday’s, 10am & 11am Toddler Time

May 14, 2022: Paper Strip Flowers

May 24, 2022 Tuesday, Lodge meeting, 7pm

Thursday’s, 9am TASC Prep Class

May 21, 2022: Paper Lanterns

Thursday’s, 2pm Coffee & Coloring

May 21, 2022: 12pm 2pm Book signing with

the Lodge, with cocktails starting at 6, and a familystyle dinner at 7.

known as the E.R., is the President and Executive Officer of the Lodge. The E.R. is responsible for all operations, programs, and social quarter activities of the Lodge and presides at each Lodge session.

Robotham is originally from Ilion and went to school there, but spent most of his time in Dolgeville, and owned Arthurs Restaurant on Main Street for 31 of those years.

He joined the Elks because “Two guys talked me into it. I was in three to four years after that and went into the chairs, and I was Exalted Ruler two years in a row.”

The Exalted Ruler, also

2022:

Robotham said that the most exciting thing he’s done as an Elk is going to three conventions.

One in California, one in Chicago, and one in the Catskills. “It’s where everybody meets and as an Exalted Ruler, you bring your own Lodge’s materials into your hospitality room and talk

May 26, 2022 Thursday, chicken bbq dinner at 5pm. Monthly $1,000 raffle drawing @ 9pm.

about your group.”

“The Little Falls Elks Lodge is really known for their chicken BBQ during Canal Celebration. We do around 500 chickens and 300 rib dinners,” he said. “We start at noon and usually sell out by 3 or 4 o’clock.”

He said that the Elks started growing once they began accepting women into the group.

“We had never had that.

We’ve had some super buildup from that.”

Robotham said that one of his friends asked him Please See ELK Page 5

Photo by Dave Warner - Jim Robotham was selected as the 2022 Elk of the Year by the Little Falls Elks Lodge No.. 42

M O H A W K

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One more month to see Fitzsimmons exhibit at MVCA

by Carly Proulx

to flesh tones.

On Saturday, March 26th MVCA’s new director, Mary Ellen McGillan introduced the work of John Fitzsimmons, a Syracuse-based artist who has been painting and showing his work worldwide for over twenty years. The show consisted of 12 figurative oil paintings and 9 etchings, a body of work that filled the room with bright light and dark shadows, a range of restless tones, and a variety of colors from vibrant yellow-greens to marigold, from deep reds

Growing up in Upstate New York, John Fitzsimmons developed a fondness for “the hard, low winter light and heavy massed forms over which light has to fight its way around.”

This affection becomes evident when one stands in the gallery with his paintings. Fitzsimmons’s technique of incising and cross-hatching to model forms results in quite the iconic effect. Modifying edges and adding detail as he goes, Fitzsimmons leaves behind a body of work that is cohesive groups of figures. One in red, cast a warm

Photo submitted Robotham while he Exalted Ruler.

Jim was

ELK From Page 4

how he knew so many people. “Well, I had the bar and restaurant in Dolgeville and I belong to the Elks, the VFW, and the American Legion. You meet all kinds of people.”

One of his friends in Dolgeville wanted to join, but couldn’t drive, so Robotham made sure that he had a ride each time. “I used to pick him up and bring him down.

You just have to bring members in, and when you get in the chairs, you have to stay in the line.”

When asked about how he felt about the award he stated, “I feel good about it. I really do.”

on both a technical and aesthetic level, yet with each painting in demand of its own reverence.

“When I’m working on a painting, so much of the time spent involves reduction, simplifying form and color until the John Fitzsimmons talks to guests during his opening reception at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. The exhibit will continue painting starts to feel through the end of May. right. Sometimes these eye-catching panoramic light amid the dark. The paintings take a very view is a painting of most peaceful painting, long time, sometimes multiple figures of the a nude horizontal of a months.” same woman, all loosely blonde woman lying on her side hangs on the The canvases are life- wrapped in red drapery size compositions where standing barefoot in the back wall. Peaceful we see Fitzsimmons’ grass. Equally striking is perhaps, but still tension interest fluctuate the tonal antithesis where hides behind her eyelids between painting the two standing figures of as if to convey that even individual figure and the same model, cloaked in sleep this woman’s Please See EXHIBIT Page 12

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20-25 thousand out there for sale.”

but he says that “They realize I’ve got most of them because I’ve been doing it for so many years.”

A lot of what he collects comes from shopping on eBay and The Toy Peddler where he His wife loves it and “She searches for the ones he knows quite a bit about it wants. because we used to set up at Canal Celebration Cooley has a database and she got to learn the of his collection, which names and colors that I took him four years to had.” assemble. “On top of the 10,000, I’ve got almost Cooley says that there 5,000 Matchbox ones.” are probably 35-40,000 Edward Cooley stands in front of one of the display cases that he has for his Hot Wheels collection.

He also has other brands, as well as ‘ramp walkers’ which wobble back and Cooley also said that forth by themselves down he loves the colors and an incline. the detail that they go into when they make the His favorite one is the cars. He used to set up a Circus Skyshow that he display during the Canal got from Canada. “They Celebration and sell make a purple one and some of the extra ones an aqua one and I have that he had collected. both of them. They’re “I’ve got a lot of extra now worth about $2,200ones in packages that 2,300 apiece.”

I sell. I don’t do it as a The most elusive one for business, just a hobby.” him has been the Super “At one time we had Fine Turbine in pink. four to six tables set up “That’s going for about with 900 different cars $3,000 and it takes time in packages. I had it for me to build up my set up to where if you hobby money to buy pulled one out, another one.” automatically slid down and took its place,” he A Beach Bum is the one stated. “We used to do that he thinks he’ll never be able to afford because pretty well.” the cheapest ones are He says that to this day, $20-30,000. there are thousands and thousands of people He says that all his family interested in collecting members try to buy the cars. “You can go Hot Wheels for him for online and there are birthdays and holidays,

10,000 Hot Wheels in Little Falls? why he started collecting, but said, “I think my If you had told me mother got me into it. She there was someone bought me Matchboxes in Little Falls that had which came out in 1954, a collection of 10,000 and I started collecting in Hot Wheels toys in their 1967 or 68.” house, I would not have believed it. But, Edward He’s been collecting for Cooley has just such a 53 years now, and when collection, and he says collecting Hot Wheels it’s probably the biggest and toys like that kind of one in the state. died off in the ‘70s, he never skipped a beat. “It’s Cooley is a lifelong a passion. I love things in resident of Little Falls, miniature and I love cars. who graduated in 1977. Take a Lamborghini - I’ll He started collecting never have a real one, when he was 12 years old so I’ve got plenty of little and doesn’t remember ones.”

by Dave Warner

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different models out there, but that he has a full collection of the ‘red line’ ones. They have a red circle on the tires.

He doesn’t think that anyone in the world has a full collection, at least not that he’s aware of.

“I think I’m one of the biggest in the state. It’s a constant thing and I don’t think I’ll ever stop collecting them.”

Right now he’s working on categorizing everything in his spreadsheets whiles he continues looking for the ones that he really wants.

When he’s ready to pass the collection down, he has someone in mind.

“I’m going to leave the one grandson the Hot Wheels and the Matchbox.”

If you are interested in talking with Cooley about his collection or purchasing one that he has for sale, you can email him at snafu57@ yahoo.com or call 315867-6068.

M O H A W K

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MAY 2022

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M O H A W K

5 Ways to Celebrate Summer with Today’s Newest Tech (StatePoint) Warm summer days are perfect for pool parties, cookouts, and bike rides. With the latest technology, there are endless ways to enhance this summer’s activities and celebrations.

1. Beat the Heat. The sweltering summer heat can be hard to handle.

Luckily, the latest in cooling technology includes everything from fancy fans that look sleek and modern in the corner of any room, to cooling mattresses that can keep any type of sleeper comfortable throughout the night.

Another great way to keep cool this summer is to invest in a quality drink

cooler or insulated water bottle that you can bring along with you to cookouts and pool parties to keep your drinks ice-cold, all day long.

2. SmashUps. SmashUps from American Greetings are customizable videos that you can personalize and send via email, text message or share on social media for a number of holidays and celebratory occasions throughout the year. There are SmashUps specifically for celebrating summer holidays, including a Juneteenth message from Alicia Keys, a special Father’s Day news bulletin from Kevin Nealon, and Fourth of July fun for the Please See TECH Page 14

V A L L E Y MAY 2022

E X P R E S S

SENIOR MEALS FOR MAY To reserve a meal, call the Herkimer County Office for the Aging at least one business day in advance, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315-867-1204 or 315-867-1634. If you will not be home for meals, call 315-8671204 at least a day in advance. All sites are handicapped accessible.

May 02 - Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, mixed vegetables, pineapple.

May 03 - Chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, red cabbage, ice cream.

May 04 - Pizza burger on a bun, O’Brien potatoes, Italian blend vegetables, brownie.

May 05 - Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes and zucchini, green beans, cinnamon cake.

May 06 - Roast beef, rice pilaf, Sonoma blend vegetables, cookie.

May 09 - Fish on a bun, tartar sauce, au gratin potatoes, spinach, peaches.

May 10 - Cheesy ham and rice casserole, squash, broccoli, strawberry shortcake.

May 11 - Sweet and sour chicken, seasoned noodles, Japanese blend vegetables, whipped yogurt.

May 12 - Turkey a la king, mashed potatoes, Pacific blend vegetables, pudding.

May 13 - Tuna salad cold plate, cottage cheese, broccoli salad, melon.

May 16 - BBQ pulled pork on a bun, baked beans, mixed vegetables, fruit cocktail.

May 17 - Parmesan crusted chicken, mashed potatoes, dill carrots, cookie.

May 18 - Tuna noodle casserole, beets, Brussels sprouts, lemon meringue pie.

May 19 - Egg salad cold plate, carrot raisin salad, coleslaw, Kaiser roll, fresh fruit.

May 20 - Turkey dinner withi gravy, stuffing, corn, fruited gelatin.

May 23 - Hamburger cabbage casserole, green beans, wax beans, pears.

May 24 - Beef stew with potatoes and carrots, biscuit, ice cream.

May 25 - Ham salad cold plate, macaroni salad, 3-bean salad, pudding.

May 26 - Chicken florentine, mashed potatoes, broccoli, peaches.

May 27 - Lasagna, Italian blend vegetables, garlic roll, chef’s choice dessert.

May 30 - Closed for Memorial Day May 31 - Pork chops, sweet potato casserole, cauliflower, cookie.

All meals are served with 8 ounces of milk, a slice of bread, and margarine.

Desserts have no concentrated sweets. The suggested donation is $3. Mail donations to Herkimer County OFA, 109 Mary St., Suite 2501, Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes are available from drivers.

Little Falls Community Co-Op

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M O H A W K

Spook Rock The Saturday Glove (Utica NY): 1908

Natural Landmark Well Known to residents of Little Falls.

Little Falls, December 4 – Standing on the north shore of the Mohawk east of Little Falls, and besides the picturesque “river road” is the shapely rock of our illustration, the bulk of which may be less appreciated were it not for the building beside it and the human figure in the roadway. Far and near this natural prominence is known as “Spook Rock”, but exactly why it bears, the title a considerable amount of casual inquiry among the older residents has failed to establish satisfactorily. Years ago, if not at present many of the youngsters in that section used to see mys-

terious lights proceeding from the stone sometimes at night, and there was a tale of a figure that sometimes walked the roadway before it, finally passing around back of it and disappearing. But the story lacked the detail and local color to give it a lasting grip as one of the legends of Rocky City, and today one can hear of nothing about the big stone so ghostly as its name.

It pleases the imagination, however, to fancy that this may have been a place of significance in days of Indian occupation, and that something of their superstition found its way into the minds of the early white settlers to die out gradually in their descendants. Such would be no remarkable case, and the neighborhood is

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said to have been a favorable place of the red men.

A little to the west rises from the river the rocky elevation known to the Mohawks as “Astenrogan”. A little to the east of that is Moss Island and its profile rock and opposite is the Lover’ Leap, the original interest and contour of which was spoiled by the passage of the West Shore Railroad as profile rock will be by the barge canal.

“Spook Rock” was so called by the elder inhabitants because of the peculiar situation of the rock, and because superstition avowed that someone has been murdered near there and the ghost, or spook, haunted the place, and often appeared to passersby. The magnificent and huge boulder stands close to the road on the shore of the river. In the rock itself may

be seen the largest and most wonderful pothole to be found in all the rocks around. It is at least 10 feet deep and possible 5 feet in diameter. It shows evidence of having been used as a place of resort long ago, and the fires

that have been kindled in it for use of savages. The rock is historical and classical, and never should be destroyed, but remain as an old landmark and monument of the days long Please See SPOOK Page 10

Page 10

M O H A W K

V A L L E Y MAY 2022

Little Falls Historical Society announces 2022 Writing Series

E X P R E S S The officers and directors of the Little Falls Historical Society are proud to announce that their 2022 writing series will be dedicated to former Little Falls social studies teacher Helen Dunteman.

Harold Templeman and the 2021 writing series was dedicated to former Little Falls high school social studies teacher Hector Allen.

The Little Falls high school graduating class of 1958 dedicated their In 2020, this writing yearbook to Helen series was dedicated to Dunteman by noting that former Little Falls high she had taught for forty school English teacher years during which time she was both a teacher and friend to many Little Falls students. Helen passed away in 1984, but she is still remembered by several Historical The 2022 Dolgeville Violet Festival Society members as an outstanding teacher who helped shape their lives in a positive manner.

SPOOK From Page 9

gone by. Let it not be desecrated for any purpose by barbarous hands.

[Note: And yet “Spook Rock” was indeed destroyed for the most part when the City of Little Falls built the sewage disposal plant on River Road. At that time little, if any, consideration was given to historical significance of buildings or important landmarks when undertaking massive urban renewal-type projects.]

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Tips to Start or Expand Your Garden and Make it Thrive (StatePoint) Starting a garden for the first time or expanding an existing plot is easier than you may think. With a little love and care, your green space will bloom and thrive.

“For anyone with the inclination, a beautiful lawn and garden is always within reach,” says Jamie Briggs, director of marketing, Exmark, a leading manufacturer of commercial mowers and equipment for landscape professionals and homeowners with a lot of lawn to cut.

This is the driving idea behind “Backyard Smart,” a free online video series. These short explainer videos are full of facts and relevant information to answer your most common lawn

and garden questions.

The following planting strategies come directly from two recent “Backyard Smart” episodes:

store offers the potential for you to enjoy flowers you’ve never seen and vegetables you’ve never tasted.

Start With Seeds: Looking to add new plants to your garden and flower bed?

Try starting from scratch.

While most nurseries have limited species of mature plants to select from, there are literally thousands of varieties of seeds available at dirt cheap prices. A quick trip to the seed kiosk in your local hardware

“It’s easy to be intimidated by the prospect of growing plants from seeds but the truth is that all you need is soil, just the right amount of water and lots of sunshine,” says Briggs. “Nature will handle the rest.”

• Practice “Companion Planting”: Whether Please See TIPS Page 14

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EXHIBIT From Page 5 work wasn’t nearly done.

Another woman stands outside next to a tree, their shadows talking among themselves. The woman’s gaze is sloping downward, the window of her eye’s expression closed. Conversely, the viewer is stopped in their tracks after meeting two green eyes peering out from a red cloak. A darkhaired woman, nestled within a gray background in the painting titled “Then and Never” is most captivating, but what’s behind this woman’s gaze remains a mystery.

For more puzzles & SUDOKU visit: mylittlefalls.com/puzzzles/

Ambiguity is a big part of the theme. The excavation of both the action of the artist when creating the work, and

the onlooker’s search for meaning is perhaps one and the same journey.

“When I am painting, I am digging, looking for a kernel, a seed, an essence that is there; I just need to find it.”

What’s left after the digging is done isn’t any one thing. It is left open for interpretation.

Fitzsimmons offers us a different perspective with his etchings. Inky and unlit these prints are seductive in a different way, the mood rendered being more somber.

Fitzsimmons’ emotional state when creating his work might be subconscious, a way of transcending this world’s over-analytical plight, but fortunately for the viewer, the end result isn’t quite as subtle. He informs that his art is “unspeakable,” or rather that these images are more about “what’s not being said.”

ideals vs pragmatism.”

On the right, she appears lost in thought and her hand is on her heart. Is she about to surrender?

And on the left her gaze is forward, her footing firm. Is she empowered?

This show pokes and prods at the structures of our emotional life, reminding us what it is to be here, to feel things we don’t always have a name for or a personal connection to; to scratch, sometimes uncomfortably so beyond the surface to reveal that something unknown, that great big mystery that links us to one another, and to keep making that discovery. See this work and let yourself feel whatever it is you will feel, unspeakable or not.

John Fitzsimmons’ What little description “Current Circumstances” Fitzsimmons describes to is in the 401 Gallery. his work is most accurately You can visit the exhibit portrayed in the two side- during regular hours by-side vertical paintings through May 28, 2022: of a buxom red-haired Thursday – Saturday, woman. He says many of his works are about 12-4, or call 315-823a “conflicted dual nature, 0808 for an appointment. arguments with himself, For more information visit right brain vs left brain, mohawkvalleyarts.org.

Paradise Gardens, Gatherings & Gifts

Antiques, Collectibles & Gifts at the Barn

(& visit the stables to see the alpacas, llamas & donkey

475 Dise Road, Little Falls, NY

Wedding & Event Center at the Pavilion coming soon

315-364-1234

Taking reservations now.

www.ParadiseGGG.com

Mon-Sat 10-5

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MAY 2022

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MAY 2022

ART WALK

GET READY FOR ART WALK! THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT & ACTIVITIES

4 - 8PM

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M O H A W K

Page 14 TECH From Page 8

whole family, including Uncle Sam selfies.

SmashUps can be sent for almost every occasion including birthdays, weddings, and retirement. Or you can send messages just to say “congrats” or “thinking of you.” Regardless of the celebration, SmashUps are almost guaranteed to entertain everyone from dads to grads.

meat thermometer. The handy device allows Dad to monitor the internal temperature of the food on the grill from his phone, so he can spend more time mingling with guests, or cooling off in front of the TV.

5. Fitness. The warm summer weather leaves plenty of options for outdoor physical activity.

Whether it’s a walk, run, bike ride or swim, there is a variety of technology 3.

Waterproof Tech. to keep you on track with Whether it’s a pool party hitting your fitness goals. or a day on the lake, a quality cooler isn’t the only For the walkers and Bluetooth thing you’ll need. Have you runners, considered if your favorite headphones can motivate technology is waterproof? you for the duration of the Whether it’s your speaker, workout. For the bikers, phone or camera, you’ll there are odometers that want to make sure it’s can be added to the bike safe by choosing one that to track how far you’ve is already waterproof or gone. For swimmers, finding a case that can seal waterproof smartwatches it off from water damage. can be worn to track the outputs of a swim.

4.Bluetooth Thermometer.

Grilling outside is a The latest technology has summer staple. If you’re something for everyone to stumped on a unique help improve your life and gift this Father’s Day, the way you celebrate this consider a Bluetooth summer.

V A L L E Y MAY 2022

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Rotary organizes cleanup on Southside

by Dave Warner

The Little Falls Rotary Club organized a cleanup on the Southside along the harbor, Highway 167 coming into the City, and the Empire State Trail area.

According to Mike Evans, President of the group, “This is spring cleaning for us. We’re raking, trimming, and putting mulch around everything. We’re

trying to make it look lot of trash pickup. “The pretty.”

Girl Scouts do the bike trail. That’s their territory.”

Evans said that they have now decided to do the Chris Van Meter said cleanup twice a year be- that she thought the Rocause, towards the end tary had been doing this of summer, things start to kind of spring cleanup for look a little bit ratty. close to 15 years.

“We’ll come back again in August or September,” Evans said that he’s been a member of Rotary he stated. for ten years, and it had He said along with all the been going at least for raking, they are doing a that long.

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TIPS From Page 11 it’s growing marigolds alongside tomatoes to block bad bugs or planting corn next so squash to provide shade, plants are kind of like people, they do better with a buddy.

Companion plants help block weeds, prevent pests, create fertile soil, promote pollination and offer plants a place to climb. In fact, people

have been practicing this technique for centuries to create vigorous gardens.

If you’ve always dreamed of having your own, homegrown, fruits and vegetables in your For more entertaining, cooking, or brightening e a s y - t o - u n d e r s t a n d your home with fresh-cut approaches to making flowers, there is no better the most of your outdoor time than the present to spaces, check out the pursue this dream. The Exmark Backyard Life long sunshiny days of site at exmark.com/ summer are ideal for backyard. developing your green thumb.

M O H A W K

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD

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Crossword Puzzle Hints

60. Heston’s foes in 1968 sci-fi movie 61. Boundary THEME: MOTHER’S DAY 62. Communism or Taoism 63. P in #1 Down ACROSS 64. Do like a model 1. Wild onion DOWN 5. Standardized testing acronym 1. Dashboard acronym 8. Accounting degree 2. Kuwaiti or Saudi 11. Hunted by hunter 3. *Maman alternative 12. Don Johnson’s TV 4. Kaa of “The Jungle role, 1996-2001 Book” 13. Run ____ of the law 5. French composer Erik 15. Mercantile Alfred Leslie ____ establishment 6. He made his fortune in 16. Chemistry Nobelist fur trading Hahn 17. *Deborah Guarino’s “Is 7. *Jord is mom to this hammer-wielding mythic Your Mama a ____?”

18. Manner of controlling thunder god 8. Chesterfield or ulster yourself 9. Feline-inspired shoe 20. Tiny bit brand 21. Willow twig 10. ____ ____ mode 22. Nutcracker’s 12. Not quite a nun distinguishing feature 13. Spy’s cover 23. Like a longer route?

14. *Popular Mother’s 26. German white wine Day gift 30. *Mom’s little one 31. Bear the expenses of 19. Cast somebody there 22. Almond-induced 34. Knock about state?

35. Dodge 37. “____ the fields we go” 23. Type of monument 38. Binary digits code 39. Bear den 40. Northern peat bog 42. Modern address 43. Analyst in a chemical lab 45. Smooth, as in surface of the lake 47. Gangster’s pistol 48. Eyelid infections 50. Wafting emanation 52. *”Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1” portrays this artist’s mother 55. Evil one 56. Simmering feeling 57. Prepare for publication 59. Give benediction

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MAY 2022

24. Pepsi and Coke 25. Tiny purses 26. Actor Wahlberg 27. Loci, sing.

28. #39 Across, pl.

29. *Lorelai Gilmore’s mother 32. *How many children does Queen Elizabeth have?

33. Hi-____ 36. *Daenerys Targaryen’s “babies” 38. End of a shoelace 40. *”How I ____ Your Mother” 41. Knights’ breastplates 44. Gridiron measure, pl.

46. In the Land of Nod 48. Guillermo del Toro’s “The ____ of Water” 49. *Amy Chua’s “Battle Hymn of the ____ Mother” 50. Rembrandt’s paints 51. Regard 52. Sandwich alternative 53. Edible root of taro plant 54. Semis 55. Hoover’s agency 58. Casual attire

Page 15

For more puzzles & SUDOKU visit: mylittlefalls.com/puzzzles/ If you would like to see your story in the Mohawk Valley Express - email it to news@mylittlefalls.com

Answers on Page 12

HAMILTON COUNTY PERSONNEL/CIVIL SERVICE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR: Clinical Social Worker (Mental Health and Substance Abuse) MHSA There is an immediate opening for a Clinical Social Worker available at the Department of Community Services in Indian Lake. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. This is a full-time position with an excellent benefits package.

This is a professional position involving the provision of mental health and substance abuse services to individuals served by the county’s mental health and substance abuse program at its clinic locations in Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant and within school settings throughout the county.

Candidate chosen for the position will be given a provisional appointment, must take a civil service examination, and be in the top three scores to retain position.

Minimum Qualifications: A.) Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Master’s Degree in Social Work; B.) Possession of license as a “licensed master social worker” issued by the New York State Department of Education at time of application.

NOTE: The minimum qualifications for this position are mandated under Article 154 of New York State Education Law. Special Requirement: Must posses a valid New York State driver’s license at time of employment and demonstrate their ability to meet the transportation needs of the job.

Motorcycles Wanted!

• Before 1985 • All Makes & Models RUNNING OR NOT $CASH$ PAID CALL (315) 569-8094 or Email: Cyclerestoration@aol.com

Proof of minimum qualifications are required at the time of application.

For more information or an application, please contact: Hamilton County Personnel PO Box 174, Court House Lake Pleasant, NY 12108 (518) 548-6375 APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION FILLED

To Advertise in the Email or Call Brian Krohn

brian.krohn@mcclarymedia.com 518-441-7008

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